The voice grows near, and a beautiful woman appears before Begawan Swandagni’s eyes. Her face glows brightly. Her hair is long. A gentle wind blows, sending waves of her hair flowing into the silence, which is full of light. Her neck is adorned with small flowers. A bloom of light, like a glowing white jasmine, falls between her breasts.
"Who are you that is so beautifully bathed in light?" asked Begawan Swandagni in awe.
“I am Dewi Luhwati. Batara Guru, the god of all gods, has appointed me to guard this place," replied the woman who does indeed resemble the goddess.
“What is the name of this beautiful place?” asked Begawan Swandagni.
Why have I arrived at a place where the stars fall as glowing blooms?
“It is Mount Taranggana Sekar. On this mountain, the stars descend as glowing blooms," the woman replied.
Begawan Swandagni takes another look at his surroundings. Indeed, in this place are glowing blooms. And the blooms are not flowers, but look like stars that have fallen from the sky as beautiful blooms of light.
"Swandagni, it would have been impossible for you to come to this place if the stars in the sky of Taranggana Sekar did not call you and guide you," Dewi Luhwati said, disrupting Begawan Swadagni’s fascination.
"Oh Goddess, for months have I been searching for a golden banana for my wife who craves it. Why have I arrived at a place where the stars fall as glowing blooms?" asked Begawan Swandagni, still in a daze.
Also read:
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (11)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (10)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (9)
“Swandagni, your eyes are not yet use to the nature of Taranggana Sekar that is here. Look at this place with the eyes of the bright stars that burn in the petals of the glowing blooms, and you will soon find what you seek," said Dewi Luhwati.
"Is it possible for me to borrow the eyes of the blooms, so I can see the fruit my wife dreams of?" Begawan Swandagni asked in disbelief.
"It is, if you unite your heart with the eyes of the blooms," answered Dewi Luhwati.
Begawan Swandagni looked deeply at the blooms around him. They have no eyes. If there were any eyes, they would be the bright stars shining in the sky. Begawan Swandagni closes his eyes and prays, allowing the stars to be the only light illuminating the nature before him. Gradually, he begins to feel he is looking through the eyes of the stars, even though his own are closed. He sees the nature around him, which has become unspeakably beautiful.
Begawan Swandagni is fascinated. Sinking into that beauty, his eyes open. And he sees a ray of light shining upwards as if challenging the sky. It is green and gold. Into that beautiful light, he feels all his longings are absorbed. And he is shocked. In an instant, he sees that Dewi Luhwati is standing before him again.
"Swandagni, it would have been impossible for you to find this place if you were not guided by your pure and sincere intentions," said Dewi Luhwati.
"Yes Goddess, I am looking for a golden banana that my pregnant wife desires. I do not want to see her agitation while I wait for the birth of her child. And her anxiety will not be relieved without tasting the golden banana she dreams of," said Begawan Swandagni.
“The golden banana is here, Swandagni. I am the one whom Batara Guru appointed to take care of the tree until he sends me to this place to live."
"Oh Goddess, I have been struggling to walk. I have been search a long time for what I want. It turns out that the golden banana is now in the hands of Your Majesty. Is Your Majesty willing to fulfill my longing? May I have the golden banana of my wife\'s dream?" asked Begawan Swandagni, full of hope.
Also read:
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (6)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (5)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (4)
"Swandagni, look over there," Dewi Luhwati said, turning her body and pointing to the north.
Begawan Swandagni follows her command and turns to the north. There, he sees beams of light falling from the sky, like rain. A moment later the light fades, and a banana tree appears. The banana tree starts to glow brightly in a green-gold hue. Begawan Swandagni is speechless. He has never seen such a beautiful banana tree in his life. Curiously, there are no banana bunches on the tree. There is only a single finger of banana hanging on it, like a golden-green beehive.
"Oh Goddess, why does that tree only bear a single banana?" asked Begawan Swandagni.
"Because that banana is for you and you only, Swandagni."
"How lucky I am to receive this blessing."
No matter how special it is, the peel of this banana is still sour. But your wife must eat both the flesh and the peel.
“Yes, Swandagni, you should be grateful to have it. I tended it and took care of it, as if only waiting for you to arrive and pluck it yourself. But you should know and remember how this banana must be eaten."
"What must I do?"
"Do not ever eat just the flesh of this banana."
"Do you mean this banana should be eaten whole, with the peel?"
“Yes, Swandagni. Your wife must eat both the flesh and the peel together.”
"Banana peel is usually sour, is it not?" asked Begawan Swandagni, not understanding.
“Yes. No matter how special it is, the peel of this banana is still sour. But your wife must eat both the flesh and the peel. Go to the golden banana tree, and pluck the fruit now," commanded Dewi Luhwati.
This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.
